This laser-powered drum machine is a stunning work of art

We’re big fans of homemade instruments, synthesizers and other noise makers here at Engadget. Russian artist Vtol created a massive laser-powered drum machine installation as part of Earth Lab, a joint project between the Polytechnic Museum Moscow and Ars Electronica Linz. Vtol describes the huge instrument as “an autonomous light-music installation,” and it’s certainly provides a neat visual to complement its noise making. The setup is officially called “Divider” and it uses seven lasers that pass through fans to send a light signal for generating sound. The laser beams are altered by high-speed fans with a photo sensor on the end monitoring the presence or absence of light.

The lasers serve a “independent binary variables” that offer the basis for all the sounds from the machine. Fans can each spin at variable speeds, which creates the range of different noises due to the modulation of the light rays. The inspiration for “Divider” came from the Rhythmicon, an instrument created by Russian inventor Léon Theremin in the 1930s. It was basically the first drum machine, creating sound with rotating discs that broke up light rays that were detected by optical sensors. Don’t take our word for it though, watch the demo of Vtol’s installation in the video below.

Via: Fact Magazine

Source: Vtol

U.S. Cellular support now officially available in Project Fi

U.S. Cellular support is now officially available for Project Fi customers. You’ll need to update the Fi app to ensure that everything is working properly on your end with connecting to the new network. With this addition, Fi customers will now have three different networks to bounce between to ensure they always are using the best network in the area they are in.

T-Mobile and Sprint were the original partners with Google on Project Fi, and now U.S. Cellular joins as the third. As previously mentioned, be sure to update your Fi app so you can see if this enhances your coverage at all. Be sure to let us know if you notice any differences in the comments!

Google Project Fi

• What is Project Fi?
• Get the latest Project Fi news
• How Project Fi pricing compares to carriers
• How to move back to Google Voice
• Here’s what comes in the Project Fi box
• Discuss Project Fi in our forums
• Compatible phones: Nexus 6P | Nexus 5X | Nexus 6
• Sign up for Project Fi

How, exactly, would a ‘Google phone’ fix what Nexus hasn’t broken?

Google already makes its own phones. It’s called Nexus. So what would taking the manufacturer partnership out of the equation actually help?

At least once a year or so we get rumors about Google “building its own smartphone.” That is, one not named Nexus, and presumably one without any sort of branding (and marketing support) from the usual manufacturing suspects.

The Information, citing “people who work at Google,” raised the mostly toothless idea back in November 2015. “There is debate and discussion about the topic right now—as there is with myriad ideas at [Alphabet] … But the fact the issue is on the table at all is noteworthy and shows how Google’s Android strategy remains in flux.”

Today, we’ve got another anonymously sourced pieced with the same sort of cliche headline and opening paragraph we typically see on this sort of thing.

From The Telegraph, under “Google to step up smartphone wars with release of own handset”:

Google is planning a shake-up of the smartphone market by releasing its own handset, a move that would tighten its grip on mobile software and see it compete directly with the iPhone.

Let’s be perfectly clear here — companies are always discussing doing all sorts of things. Some come to fruition. Others don’t. If Google never discussed making an unbranded phone without the visible help of an established hardware partner, the folks running that end of things wouldn’t be doing their jobs. It’s not a very difficult proposition to come up with.

The Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X are as Google as it gets already.

And The Telegraph ticks all the boxes of a piece trying to make a meal out of something while there’s barely any meat on the bone. “Shake-up of the smartphone market?” “Tighten its grip on mobile software?” “Compete directly with the iPhone?”

I don’t know what the hell any of that means. The last phone to shake up the smartphone market was the iPhone. It’s going to take something truly revolutionary to do it again. And Google simply “making its own phone” likely isn’t it.

And how, pray tell, would an unbranded Google phone tighten Google’s grip on open-sourced software? Nexus devices (and the Pixel C tablet) are direct targets of Google and the Android Open Source Project. (The software that Google actually ships with those phones is a little different, however, contains code different than what you or I could build for the Nexus phones. Welcome to open-source software.)

And “compete directly with the iPhone?” As opposed to what?

If Google really wants to ‘control’ Android, it needs to sell more of its phones. Not just give them a different brand.

None of that is to say that Google couldn’t do it. Or that it won’t. (Though it’s our understanding that the Nexus program isn’t going anywhere for a couple more years, at least.) But Google “building its own phone” would almost certainly still mean that it contracts with someone like Foxconn (or whitelabels a device from, say, Huawei or LG or HTC) to actually build the thing, as just about any other phone company does. And building a phone is a good bit different from building a tablet.

Nothing in The Telegraph piece gets anywhere close to addressing how a Google-branded phone would be anything beyond an exercise in rebranding. And there’s absolutely no proof that simply switching from “Nexus” to “Google” would do anything to steal away marketshare from Samsung, which maintains a huge lead over pretty much everyone.

And Google’s own Nexus phones already lead the way on software updates. That’s (sadly) telling when some eight months after both the release of Android 6.x Marshmallow and the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, a mere 10% of all current devices (and that’s including updated devices as as well as a handful of older Nexus phones) are on the most recent software. There simply aren’t that many Nexus phones in the world when you take that sort of context into account. Is a rebranding really going to move that needle any more than a Nexus phone already doesn’t move it?

Maybe Google’s making some sort of non-Nexus smartphone. Maybe it’s not. For sure it’s been talked about at some point. And maybe it’s all a behind-the-scenes thing, that it’d just be easier to not work with an established manufacturer that has its own hangups and ideas about how to do things.

But you can bet every last byte that if Google does “build its own phone” instead of building its own phone in partnership with an established manufacturer, it’s going to be far more than tightening the software grip it already enjoys on the Nexus line.

Google Cast SDK Version 3 released for Android and iOS

Google has released the 3.0 version of its Google Cast SDK for Android and iOS app developers. The updated tools will allow app creators to add more features in their Google Cast-enabled products.

The new Google Cast SDK update was previewed during Google I/O 2016. Among other things, version 3.0 offers developers a way to enable Cast features in their apps with less coding than before. It also offers a more consistent user interface for the iOS and Android versions. It will allow apps to cast their content across a wide range of devices and platforms, including Chromecast, Cast for audio, Cast TV, and Android TV.

Check out version 3.0 of the Google Cast SDK

Google Expeditions can take whole classrooms on virtual field trips

Google has launched is Expeditions educational virtual reality app for Google Cardboard for everyone, following a preview release last year. Expeditions is aimed at students and schools, and allows teachers to take their students on virtual field trips. Teachers act as guides, controlling the experience for a classroom-sized set of devices on the same Wi-Fi network.

These are the primary features of Expeditions:

• Guide classroom-sized groups of locally connected users from your phone or tablet.
• Explore along with a guide in immersive VR by putting your Android phone into a Google Cardboard viewer (https://vr.google.com/cardboard/) or use an Android tablet or phone in 2D “magic window” mode.
• Connect devices over the same WiFi network – if the Guide has downloaded some Expeditions, there is no internet connectivity required to run the Expedition!
• Choose from a growing list of over 200 Expeditions – each one is a curated set of VR imagery along with integrated descriptions, talking points and questions.

Expeditions is available now in the Google Play Store, and you can use existing Cardboard setups with Android phones to get started. However, there will also be pre-made Expedition Kits, which feature 30 devices for students, 30 ViewMaster VR viewers, and more equipment, on sale through Best Buy for $9,999.

The best board games for Android

What are the best board games for Android?

Board games have been experiencing a renaissance in recent years, and it doesn’t take a lot of digging in the Google Play Store to see it reflected on Android as well. If you’re having trouble getting everybody together under one roof or just don’t have any more shelf space for another box, pick up your Android phone or tablet to grab these fantastic board games.

We’ve put together the very best board games for Android for the consideration of long-time board game fans.It’s worth noting in advance that a vast majority of the Android board games on our list employ in-app purchases for expansions, and thanks to their established physical counterparts, they tend to be well-balanced and lots of fun.

• Ticket to Ride
• Catan
• Ascension
• Carcassonne
• Shelter Free
• Monopoly: Here and Now World Edition
• Sea Battle 2
• Mahjong: Beautiful Orient

Ticket to Ride

Ticket to Ride gets players to build sprawling rail empires by gathering colored cars to connect cities. Every turn, a player gets to either pick two cars, claim a line by spending cars, or take on a new ticket, which challenges players to connect two cities before the first player runs out of cars. The farther these two cities are, the more victory points they’re worth, plus the player with the longest line gets an additional victory point bonus.

On the whole, Ticket to Ride is a fine combination of competition and construction. The in-app purchase grants you access to a new bundle of maps and boards, all of which are totally worth the price.

Download Ticket to Ride ($6.99 with in-app purchases)

Catan

Catan is not just a classic board game; it is the classic board game. Players harvest resources and connect their villages by roads, accumulating victory points along the way. It doesn’t sound like much, but between the inter-player trading (or scheming) and the cramped real estate, Catan can be a very tense game. Players also use their harvested resources to purchase cards which can provide them with useful resources. Pass-and-play multiplayer is available, as well as many of the original game’s expansions.

For a tense game of wheeling and dealing, check out Catan.

Download Catan ($3.99)

Ascension

Ascension is a well-established fantasy card game. Players dynamically build their deck over the course of gameplay, and attempt to acquire the most victory points from a limited pool. When the pool is empty, the points are tallied up. Gathering these honor points is done by building a force with sword and sorcery, acquiring constructs, slaying a constantly-shifting selection of monsters on the board, and recruiting new heroes to your cause. There are expansions and promo packs which introduce new cards to the set as well.

Ascension’s fast and fluid gameplay are bound to catch the attention of even occasional board gamers.

Download Ascension(Free with in-app purchases)

Carcassonne

Carcassonne is a tile-based kingdom-building game in which players each take turns trying to complete roads, cities, and cloisters. Each turn, players also drop a limited number of their meeple onto those landmarks in an attempt to claim points once the feature has been completed. If you can’t fully enclose a city or finish a road by the end of the game, you can still get a few points. A handful of expansions are also available through in-app purchases.

Carcassonne is a polished adaptation of a classic board game. If you haven’t tried it yet, now is the time.

Download Carcassonne ($4.99)

Shelter Free

Shelter Free combines deck building card games and castle defence strategy. You wake up to find that the world is overrun with zombies and you have to continuously fight them off in order to make your way out of the danger zone. You move through hazards, seeking cards to build and strengthen your deck, and duelling with zombies who have equally powerful card decks.

The graphic novel artwork style is enough to keep you coming back for more gameplay, but the storyline and intense card battles will keep you hooked for sure.

Download Shelter Free (Free with in-app purchases)

Monopoly: Here and Now World Edition

It’s not a real board game collection until Monopoly shows up, but this isn’t the Monopoly you grew up playing. Sure, you roll the dice and move your chosen token around the board, but the newer version of Monopoly uses famous landmarks (like the Eiffel Tower) for tokens, and you land in Istanbul instead of on Park Avenue. You can opt to join a live multiplayer game online or create your own custom game with a combination of computer-generated opponents and real people.

It’s easy, it’s fun, and if you can’t remember the last time to took out a Monopoly board, it’s time to get this one downloaded.

Download Monopoly Here and Now (free with in-app purchases)

Sea Battle 2

Don’t let anyone sink your battleship! This reimagining of the classic game lets you play against an AI, a random online opponent, or the person sitting next to you. It goes beyond mere battleships to include planes, radar, mines, submarines, and all the while you’re climbing the ranks from a lowly recruit to an admired admiral. Name your proud fleet, watch your scores on the global leaderboard, and use the in-app chat feature to discuss strategy.

The old-school graph paper design will take you right back to playing sneaky Battleship rounds during junior high study hall.

Download Sea Battle 2 (Free with in-app purchases)

Mahjong: Beautiful Orient

The 20 boards of Mahjong: Beautiful Orient feature beautiful backgrounds and a lovely soundtrack to listen to while you master Mahjong. The premise of the game is simple enough: match two tiles to remove them from the board. The boards increase in complexity as you advance, and you need to attain a preset minimum score to move on (not so simple now). Speed, accuracy, and a sharp eye are your must-have Mahjong tools.

If you love board games but you’d just rather play solo, Mahjong: Beautiful Orient is the game for you.

Download Mahjong Beautiful Orient (Free with in-app purchases)

Your favorite Android board games?

Those are our picks, but there’s a lot of great games in the Google Play Store. Leave a comment with your favorite board game or board adaptations for Android!

The Minecraft movie has a release date, coming in 3D and to IMAX

Minecraft diehards can rejoice! Their movie is just three years away.

Mojang has announced an official release date for the game series’ first feature film. The developer studio, which Microsoft acquired in 2014 for $2.5 billion, said its Warner Bros-produced Minecraft movie will hit cinemas worldwide on 24 May 2019. It’ll be available in 3D and IMAX. The adaptation is now under construction, with Rob McElhenney (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) attached to direct.

Producers Roy Lee (Lego Movie) and Jill Messick (Mean Girls) are also behind the property. We still don’t know much about the film’s plot, or anything really. An IMDb page only states that it is a feature film based on the popular video game. That said, in February, Lee hinted the filmmakers and game designers were collaborating. He emphasised Mojang was very involved in the development:

“So [Mojang] know everything is going to be in the movie that can give us insight into future updates, so we can put things into the movie around the same time they relaunch newer versions of the game and at the same time, potentially taking ideas from the movie and putting them into the game. So, I don’t know exactly what things are going into the game, but they know exactly what’s going into the movie.”

In 2014, Mojang announced that the original PC version of its open-ended sandbox game reached 100 million registered users. But how many people have actually paid for a copy of the game on PC? According to the game’s website, more than 23.7 million copies have been sold.

Here’s when that ‘Minecraft’ movie is finally coming out

Been waiting on pins and needles for news regarding the upcoming Minecraft movie? The good news is there’s actually one big piece of news: a release date. The bad news? You’re going to be waiting a few years still until you can feast your eyes on it.

The official Mojang blog had a concrete release date for the film today: May 24, 2019. It’ll release in 3D and IMAX, but that’s just about all we know about the movie at this time. Vu Bui, COO of Mojang, notes that it does seem like quite a long time away, but it “just so happens to be the right amount of time to make it completely awesome” while promising “loads more” will be shared soon.

Minecraft continues to be a tour-de-force, with the newly-launched Battle mini game a success and Minecraft Realms, the paid multiplayer server hosting service out there in the wild for players being introduced for mobile players.

What could a movie version of Minecraft bring? We’ll have to wait a few Memorial Day holidays to see.

Source: Mojang